"I think he'll be glad to," spoke Belle. "He loves anything about,
politics--he's a reformer, you know."

"And so was my father--he belong to ze reform party--but the others--zey
of ze old regime--zey like not reform in Sea Horse Island," chattered
Inez. "Zey lose too much money zereby. So my father he is in prison,
and I am here!" she finished, softly.

"Well, it's all dreadfully mixed up," sighed Cora, "and I believe it
will take your father, Belle, to straighten out some of the tangle.
Meanwhile, I suppose I'd better put these papers in the safe," for
Inez had thrust them into Cora's rather unwilling hands.

"Keep zern safe, if you can Senora," pleaded the girl. "Zat--zat
villain, if I must call him such--zat Valdez may come back for zem."

Mrs. Kimball started.

"Don't worry, mother," said Cora. "Jack is home now, to say nothing
of Walter and Harry."

"Oh, my poor boy!" exclaimed his mother. "I must go to him. Dr.
Blake ought to be here."

"There comes his car now," volunteered Belle. "I know the sound."

Several events, of no particular importance now followed each other
in rapid succession. It was Dr. Blake who had arrived, and he was
soon subjecting Jack to a searching medical examination, with the
result of which, only, we need concern ourselves. Cora, slipping the